Letters to the Editor

Manna from Anna

May I please, through your columns, express my thanks to Anna of the

Manna Café, Botley Baptist Church, for her generous hospitality

extended to an eighteen-strong family party I recently took for lunch and

a get together in her café. Five small children were kept totally amused

with the wide range of toys and books available, our various delicious

lunches were served with care and tastefulness, and the offer to us all to

stay as long as we liked was much appreciated.

It was an excellent way for me to accommodate my American visitors,

who were too numerous to fit in my flat.

Thank you, Anna, for a happy experience.

Elsie Hinkes

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Prescriptions, Results, Technology

Please help us to help you. We are aware that issues with prescriptions

are one of the common problems we are all facing. To that end, we would

be grateful if you can choose a pharmacy to which we can send your

prescriptions. This is where the technology comes in.

We can issue the prescription and send it electronically to the chemist of

your choice. It usually takes a few minutes to show up on the system in

the pharmacy, but this can take up to 30 minutes during busy times when

there is increased traffic on the internet.

If you would like to try this, please contact the surgery so we can set the

system up for you. This will also be environmentally friendly – less paper

prescriptions, saving trees and the planet. It will reduce time as you will

not need to collect the prescription from the surgery and then take it to

the pharmacy (saves fuel as well).

Another way we are trying to use technology for mutual benefit is by

sending text messages to your mobile phone. By doing this we will be

able to give you results directly and send reminders about appointments

for blood tests, BP check etc. It also goes without saying that this will

make things quicker, save time, money and energy.

Review of the Year

[Editor’s review of the year 2018-19, as shared at the Sprout AGM in July]

“Looking back through last year’s Sprouts, I was proud

to see what a lively and informative magazine it has

become, reflecting a quiet suburb that is more

interesting than it might seem at first glance.

Here are a few of the highlights.

Sustainability has been a constant theme,

starting with an article in March inviting people to

switch energy providers to ‘Planet friendly power’, and

expressing local hopes to be “the place where more

people use green energy than anywhere else.’ Over the year these

escalated as awareness of the global predicament grew, until we were

reporting the Parish Council’s declaration of a Climate Emergency, local

input into School Strikes for the Climate and the Extinction Rebellion

protests in London, and most recently the efforts of Waitrose in the Botley

Road to do away with much of their plastic packaging, something which

they pioneered here because of local interest.

April saw the start of a few lively Letters pages. This was the month

when we printed the first letter welcoming the new development of the

shopping centre and listing all the things that made Botley ‘a joke’ to the

rest of Oxford. The directors had their doubts about the suitability of such

criticism, and even more so the following month when we published a

brutally frank endorsement. In the end, though, these letters provoked

some vigorous rebuttals from people who love our home patch, and then

the excitement of the letters page was over for a while!

Botley’s story has always been about transport. It is the reason we are

here and the cause of many of our problems. It is the cause, indeed, of

the very existence of the Sprout, which tries to mitigate the disconnect

caused by having major roads quarter our patch. We were thus very

happy to publish Malcolm Graham’s detective work on past attempts to

make us a transport corridor – In May he told us about the proposed canal

route of 1802, and in September it was the turn of the mid 19th Century

railway which would have wiped out North Hinksey. The issue was taken

up again in October when the possibility of the mighty Oxford–Cambridge

Expressway was dropped on us, with daunting implications for the people

living along the Southern By Pass and Stanley Close, as well as for

Wytham Woods and the War Graves in the cemetery. Resistance has

been solid so far, with only the County Council supporting the project,

while parishes along the proposed routes are united in opposition. We

will continue to report on something likely to have a big effect on us all.

There were other development issues throughout the year. First, the

redevelopment of the shopping centre finally got under way, and the

Sprout gave constant updates from the community campaign that

monitored and challenged the plans at every step, in an attempt to wrest

them into a shape that felt it belonged to us. Another theme that picked

up momentum as the year advanced was the Flood Alleviation Scheme.

In July we described how the Oxford Preservation Trust came into the

fray, holding a walk through their beautiful meadow behind the pylons

beyond North Hinksey Lane to try and gauge what would be the effects.

Thanks to them, all the trees sentenced to felling were marked and people

started to realize the plans might have more negative consequences than

had been advertised. Resistance grew, a local pressure group was

formed to get the plans modified, the Environment Agency defended the

project and the Sprout reported developments at every stage, leading up

to the July Public Enquiry [Now indefinitely postponed, see page XX.).

People who had made a local impact during the year were Dr Chadwick

whose retirement was reported in May, and Philip Stephens, a community

stalwart of many years’ standing, who had passed away over the

summer. October was the month when we reported on the life of Eleanor

Bolton, the ‘Botley Bag Lady’ who had been found dead earlier in the

year. Her funeral was a dignified occasion and the tribute from Mary

Squires put many false rumours about her to rest. So many people asked

to see the article that I was glad I had kept some copies back. Articles

about young musicians and hat-makers showed that Botley was home to

some exciting initiatives, and I was also proud to have published some

thought-provoking articles: End of Life Care and the need to think

creatively about death by Chris Sugden in May and Linda Losito’s two

articles about the natural world in June and November. The literary talent

in our midst, which Martin Harris documented in his series ‘Literary

Botley’ is alive and flourishing, and the Sprout is lucky to benefit from it.

A good year then, and the Sprout continues to thrive.

Ag MacKeith, Editor

Pears

When we mention pears, you probably think of the

ubiquitous Conference available in the

supermarkets all year round. There are, though,

many more varieties of pears if you look. Pears

were developed mainly in Europe (particularly

Belgium) and so are not as adapted to our

climate as apples. This means that many of the

varieties in the shops are imported. Conference

pears are often grown in Holland and stored for

many months before being brought to the supermarkets. This gives the

impression that they are in season all year round and it is easy to miss

the varieties that are only available for a short while. Look out for Forelle

in spring and Abbe Fetel (or Abate Fetel, sometimes just Abate) in May,

Concorde in autumn and Doyenne de Comice (usually Comice) in winter.

In order to prevent pears ripening too fast, they need to be kept cold –

preferably at only a degree above freezing. They will continue to ripen in

the fridge, but more evenly than at room temperature and you can bring

them out for a day or two to get them to the perfect ripeness for eating.

If you grow your own pears, you can choose from a wide variety of trees,

selected to ripen when you most want them – from early August for Beth

to the New Year for Josephine de Malines. The trick with your own pears

is knowing when to pick them. All pears need to be picked when they are

too hard to eat – if you can pick and eat the pear straight away then you

have left them too long and they will rot quickly. Some will be ready in a

few days, others might take several months before they are even

remotely edible, but they are usually worth the wait. The trick is to test

the tree for readiness – gently lift a likely-looking pear and if it detaches

from the tree cleanly, then it is ready

and time to pick the whole tree.

Next month we will explore some

ideas to deal with the inevitable

glut.If you grow your own pears,

wish to, or are simply interested in

pears, please come along to

Botley’s Apple Day and talk to us!

Colin & Sally Hersom

Camping with the Cubs

This is an article written by the 4th Oxford Cubs after their week end camp

in May. It’s a collective effort, written in the Cubs’ own words…

 “We went to cub camp played games, prepared dinner and roasted

marshmallows.“

 “We put up

our tents;

our tent had

a rip in it

and we had

to move

tents. We

didn’t get

much sleep

in the end -

but more

sleep than

expected!“

 “We went on a nature hike and climbed trees – one of us almost fell

out, but didn’t. We found some resin, it was dried up, we think it had

a bug in it. It might turn to precious amber in a couple of million years.“

 “We did archery, medieval jousting with tin can opponents and

bamboo lances, and we made and decorated the shields. We also

made model siege catapults with lolly sticks and rubber bands.“

 “We made ourselves dinner and cooked it on the fire. We made

damper (basic bread wrapped around a stick cooked above the

embers), and ate it, best bread ever. We drank hot chocolate.“

 “Some of our favourite things were the nature hike, telling stories

around the campfire and playing duck duck goose. Some of us tried

making tea with nettles which we liked doing, even though some cubs

thought it didn’t taste very nice! We also liked eating the food.“

 “Lots of us have been on camp before; we like going on camp

because it is fun; and because we get a longer amount of time to do

the usual cub stuff.“

Climate challenge – where to begin?

It’s one thing to declare a Climate Emergency (as the Parish, the Vale,

the City, and even the Government have done), but what can we

physically do to avert reaching a point of no return in eleven years’

time? Things have to change on two fronts: at home so that we are

part of the solution, not part of the problem; and on a broader front,

so that laws and systems supply an effective framework for action.

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by grief at the damage to our lovely

planet, and a sense of futility in the face of such an enormous

problem! But take heart, together we can make a difference. The

question is, where to start?

Low Carbon West Oxford have set up the Act Now programme, which

offers real help. It’s based on their ‘Five Things’ campaign (six really,

see below*) about the main things we need to do. The programme is

open to anyone in the area – and that includes Botley, details here:

www.lowcarbonwestoxford.org.uk/act-now/

You don’t have to be an activist to sign up, just wanting to do

something effective and needing help to get started. Everyone is

welcome at the Sunday morning workshops from 5th October. Each

workshop will explore a different area of personal responsibility and

potential action, and give clear information about how to reduce your

carbon footprint.

The Oxford Together on Climate Change website was set up by eight

local groups to support people across the county to act and to add

their input to a growing list of what people have done already. This is

the place to record your solar panels, or any other thing you’ve done

to make your home more sustainable. (www.change4climate.uk)

*1. Diet – reduce or eliminate meat and dairy in our diets. 2. Transport –

cycle, walk or use public transport wherever possible (or car share). 3.

Money – think if you really need it before you buy it. Fund community

renewables with your pension or savings, not climate change. 4. Make

our homes as energy-efficient as possible and cut waste. Reduce and

reuse before you recycle. 5. Look after local wildlife and think how

shopping choices impact on biodiversity and 6 Notice what you’re feeling

and talk about it. Chances are other people are feeling the same, and

together you can encourage each other to take action.

What else can we do?

Are you going on the international Climate Strike in Bonn Square on

20th September? (see www.globalclimatestrike.net) See you there!

Local action works best when we work together. The Association for

Botley Communities is having a meeting to plan what we can do here

on Friday Sept 6th (7.30pm at the Seacourt Hall). It’s a forum to

discuss ways of bringing more people in to work on climate change,

but also to talk about air pollution and supporting our green spaces

and wildlife (and hedgehogs!). As for the Parish Council, they are

digging in their heels over the sustainability elements in the

Neighbourhood Plan; continuing to oppose the Oxbridge

Expressway; and planning a Botley Climate Action Day in November

which will give a platform for every local initiative to make itself known.

Recent changes at Vale council have seen them get more active on

environmental issues, including climate and air pollution. Your

councillors need encouraging to develop a clear climate action plan,

and to use the planning system to reduce emissions from new

developments. We can start by asking our local councillors what they

are doing to tackle these issues.

Then there is Trees for Climate, an Oxfordshire campaign supporting

national calls to double tree cover. This will absorb sizeable amounts

of carbon dioxide over the next twenty years and is another part of

the wider campaign for a zero-carbon Britain. We need local action

here – where could we plant more trees in Botley? (see

www.facebook.com/groups/oxfordshiretreesforclimate )

Wherever you are, there are things you can do.

Do you belong to the Home School Association – what’s being done

at school to run it sustainably? Are they reaching out to parents as

well as children? Are you a member of a Book Group? How about

encouraging each other by reading Wilding by Isabella Tree or

Climate Justice by Mary Robinson. These are both books that

describe heart-lifting examples of actions that will make a difference,

and there are others. If you’ve read something that gives you hope,

please tell the Sprout and we’ll compile a reading list.

Is your life so busy that the balancing act between work and home is

as much as you can manage without adding anything more to the

mix? Perhaps work has volunteer days you could use?

The main thing is to get into a supportive group, talk to each other

and get started. If direct action feels like the right thing for you,

Extinction Rebellion is setting up a local group (see Randoms, pXX).

If your kids want to inform themselves, the Oxford Natural History

Museum is running a Saturday morning series for 15 to 19 year-olds

from 14th September called ’Let’s talk about Climate’. If you just want

help to get started, ‘Act Now’ is for you.

Dates for your diary

6th September – ABC meeting in the Seacourt Hall; 20th

September: National climate Strike; 27th September: Arts and

Science Extravaganza at the Natural History Museum, hosted by

Oxford Extinction Rebellion and Conservation Optimism – expect

films, talks, drama, dressing up – fun with a serious message! (see

https://www.oumnh.ox.ac.uk/event/heading-for-extinction); 5th Oct:

Low Carbon’s workshops start in WOCC; starting October 7th,

Extinction Rebellion’s autumn campaign of actions in London and

other cities. Together we can make a difference.

Ag MacKeith

Demolition photos

Now the shopping centre is rising around us, it has become less a place

of memorable images. But look at the way things were a year ago!

First, Uwe Ackerman’s terrific photo showing shopping-as-usual while the

Seacourt Hall crumbles into dust (below). Brian Russell-Gray’s striking

image of the Beast getting its teeth into West Way House is opposite.

David Kay’s over the page. There will be more in coming weeks – the

standard is very high, and it will be hard to find a winner. It’s a pity that

the Sprout’s black-and-white format and small size can’t really do justice

to them, but we’ll place them online in the Sprout Archive in

BotleyHinksey.org, the community website, in due course.

Public Inquiry into Flood Scheme postponed

A Public Inquiry is needed into the proposed Oxford flood alleviation

scheme because the scheme requires compulsory purchase of land. The

inquiry should have been this summer. However Oxfordshire County

Council have found that the Kennington railway bridge needs replacing.

The culverts that would be part of the flood alleviation scheme can’t be

installed through the road embankment until the bridge has been

replaced. As a result, the Public Inquiry has been postponed indefinitely

– probably for at least a year – until a solution has been agreed.

As part of the compulsory purchase requirements, the Environment

Agency must replace any publicly accessible land it takes with an

equivalent amount of land in an equivalent location. The Environment

Agency plans to take most of the Seacourt Nature Reserve – roughly the

white rectangle in the top left area on the map – and replace that by

making ‘publicly accessible’ the scrubland at the back of the Jewsons

store – roughly the hatched area in the centre of the map. On the ground,

‘Jewsons Field’ is scrubland that is mostly fenced in, with access and a

path between the north-east and north-west ends, and with a pylon on

the south-west corner. People have been crossing through Jewson’s

Field for decades, rough sleepers have used it for years as a camping

spot, and arguably that land is already ‘publicly accessible’.

If you have any

views about the

flood alleviation

scheme as a

whole, and the

‘Jewsons Field’

exchange in

particular, please

send them to

DEFRA Flood Risk

Management,

3rd Floor,

Seacole Block,

2 Marsham St,

London SW1P 4DF

100 years of Botley W.I.

Botley WI is celebrating its Centenary this year. The Committee have

tried in vain to find out the exact date that Botley WI opened its doors for

the first time but in the absence of this information we have organised

exciting extra events throughout the year, including a celebratory dinner

in August at Denman, and a Centenary festival in the W.I. hall in

September.

The festival will bring together several community groups and will show

what our members can make and do. Botley used to have Summer

Festivals every year but the event died out many years ago, so it felt right

to resurrect it for this special year. The festival is on the 14th September

in the W.I. hall, 2pm–4.30pm. We would love people to come along and

enjoy the afternoon with us. There will be entertainment from local

groups, W.I. competitions to look at, games, and tea and cakes for sale.

The ladies of Botley W.I. have been busy for a long time; an archived note

from 1924 says, ‘The W.I. has held its regular weekly working parties at

which much useful handwork has been done for the sale of work. Also,

their monthly meetings for instruction and amusement have been well

attended.’ We are still being instructed and amused, and hope to continue

to be so for the next 100 years.

Botley WI members in mediaeval gear c1930, reflecting the banner. Could

they have been celebrating the opening of the new W.I. Hall in 1932?

Life in the UK

After 31 years of living in the UK as a US citizen, I have recently taken

the ‘Life in the UK’ test, in preparation for changing my nationality (don’t

ask why now). You can prepare for it by reading the official Home Office

‘Life in the UK’ book. Based on the contents of the book, the Home Office

have come up with about 1000 multiple choice questions. You can take

practice tests online, and everyone gets a random set of 24 questions

from that. You need to get 75% to pass.

I found some of the practice questions manageable, like the capital of

Wales, what date Christmas Eve falls on, who the Queen is married to,

and whether I should approach the police if I was aware that a crime had

been committed. Some I felt I should have known, like the meaning of

Diwali and Eid Mubarak (and the fact that there are two Eids). But some

were just brutal, and it made me wonder what ‘Life in the UK’ is all about.

So, for your enjoyment, here are some of the trickier ones (answers at

the bottom):

1. How many National Parks are there in the UK? A.5, B. 8, C. 10, D. 15

2. How many times did Jackie Collins win the F1 championship? A. 2,

B. 3, C. 5, D. 8

3. What country was Florence Nightingale born in? A. UK, B. Spain,

C. Germany, D. Italy

4. Who invented insulin? A. John McLeod, B. Christopher Cockerell,

C. James Goodfellow, D. Peter Mansfield

5. How many million years ago was the Giant’s Causeway formed?

A. 20, B. 30, C. 40, D. 50

6. Which king is associated with the Battle of the Boyne? A. James II,

B. Charles II, C. Edward II, D. William II

7. Which of these musicians wrote The Planets? A. Henry Purcell,

B. Gustav Holst, C. Edward Elgar, D. Ralph Vaughan Williams

8. How long is the Bayeux Tapestry? A. 12m, B. 25m, C. 40m, D. 70m

So… did you get at least 6 right? If not, should the Home Office A. take

away your passport and put you on a raft in the English Channel, or

B. make the test more properly reflective of actual life in the UK?

[Answers: 1. C, 2. B, 3. D, 4. A, 5. D, 6. A, 7. B, 8. D]

I have been thinking about the kinds of questions that, for me, better

represent my last 31 years. So here goes:

1. Someone gets in front of you in the bus queue. Do you: A. Move back

in front of them, B. Point out that you were there first, C. Explain to

the bus driver that you were in the queue first and should get the other

person’s seat, D. Quietly store up your anger and write a seething

post about it on Facebook.

2. Your car is falling apart and you don’t want it any more. Do you: A.

Leave it at the recycling centre, B. Sell it to a scrapyard, C. Prop it on

bricks by the side of your house, D. Park it in a layby and set fire to it.

3. You are sitting in the quiet carriage of a train but want to make a

phone call. Which TWO of these can you do: A. Make the phone call

as normal but hunch over so that you can’t see other people staring

at you, B. Move into the vestibule area to make the call, C. Hold off

making the call, D. Make the call in a normal tone of voice but cover

your mouth so that it looks like you’re speaking quietly.

4. Your neighbour is playing music really loudly at 11pm. Do you: A.

Join the party, B. Knock on their door and ask them to turn it down,

C. Move your bedding into your old car which is on bricks on the other

side of the house where it’s quieter, D. Quietly store up your anger

and write a seething post about it on Facebook.

Riki Therivel

LOCAL PLANNING APPLICATIONS

P19/V1498/FUL

20 Eynsham Rd. Demolish existing

house, replace with detached building of

five flats, off-street parking, etc

20 June

Target Decision

Date: 15 August

P19/V1512/FUL

5 Toynbee Close. Build two 2-bed flats at

rear with access from Toynbee Close.

Demolish existing house, replace with 2-

storey building containing three flats flats.

20 June

TDD: 15 August

P19/V1651/LDP

34 Cedar Rd. Certificate of Lawful use for

a single storey rear extension.

8 July

TDD: 2 Sept

P19/V1725/PDH

198 Westminster Way. Single storey rear

extension to replace conservatory.

17 July

TDD: 28 Aug

P19/V1744/HH

6 Hurst Rise Rd. Replace garage &

conservatory with a single storey rear and

side extension.

19 July

TDD: 13 Sept

P19/V1812/HH

20 Brogden Close. Rear single storey

extension & new terrace deck.

25 July

TDD: 19 Sept

P19/V1788/FUL

(Replaces appl

P19/V1403/HH).

Gateways, Harcourt Hill. Demolish house

& build larger dwelling in same location.

31 July

TDD: 25 Sept

P19/V1934/FUL

13A Chestnut Rd. Loft conversion of 1st

floor flat for 2nd bedroom & bathroom.

7 August

TDD:2 Oct

P19/V1884/FUL

30 Lime Rd. Proposed dwelling on land

adjacent to Nos. 28 & 30 Lime Road.

8 August

TDD: 3 Oct

P19/V1875/HH

Variation of

Condition 2 of

P19/V0682/HH

87 Hurst Rise Rd. Basement construction.

Front single, side & rear 2-storey

extensions, reducing size of extension,

windows & roof changes.

12 August

TDD: 7 Oct

P19/V1953/HH

Tudor House, 21 Hurst Rise Rd.

Demolish attached garage. Erect 2-storey

side & rear extensions.

12 August

TDD: 7 Oct

CAB – Here to Help

TV licences for over-75s

The BBC is planning to start charging over-75s for

their TV licences unless they receive Pension

Credit, the benefit for people on low incomes who

have reached the state retirement age.

Currently, everyone aged 75 or older gets a free TV

licence, which covers them and anyone else they live

with. However, as from June 2020, over-75s will be

means tested for the free licence. It is thought that

more than three million people will no longer be eligible to receive it. To

keep your free licence, you must show are entitled to Pension Credit.

Over a million people who qualify for Pension Credit aren't claiming it, the

government says, so it's worth checking your eligibility.

How? By phoning the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 991 234 (Mon-

Fri, 8am–6pm) and asking them. Or visit https://www.gov.uk/pension-

credit. You'll need to quote your National Insurance number and be able

to give details of your savings and pensions, as well as the account into

which you want your Pension Credit paid.

If you live in a care home or sheltered housing you can get an

Accommodation for Residential Care licence which costs £7.50. You only

need this if you watch TV in your own separate accommodation. If you

need help understanding this change, telephone Citizens Advice

Adviceline on 03 444 111 444 or come and see us in person at our office

in St Aldates.

Cancelled flights or lost luggage? Know your rights

Airports and air travel have always caused difficulties and stress, but in

the present age – with tight security and overcrowded terminal buildings

– travellers have to deal with situations more fraught than ever. To add to

their problems flights are often delayed or cancelled, and suitcases

vanish or turn up with items missing or damaged.

If you encounter any of these problems, you will be able to cope better if

you are thoroughly familiar with your options before travelling.

If you're flying to or from an EU airport with an EU airline, under EU rules

you might be entitled to compensation if you are delayed. You can check

on the Civil Aviation Authority website www.caa.co.uk which also provides

information on other eventualities and on ATOL financial protection for

package flight travellers. Depending on how long your flight is delayed

and where you’re flying to, the airline might have to provide you with food

and drink, access to phone calls and emails, and accommodation if you're

delayed overnight. Again, the CAA website provides relevant information.

If your flight is cancelled you might have the legal right to have either a

full refund or a replacement flight to get you to your destination (from

another airline if necessary).

If your luggage is delayed, damaged or lost and the airline is at fault, you

can claim compensation from the airline – perhaps within 7 days, so act

fast!. But if you have insurance that covers luggage, an insurance claim

might be a better option, depending on your excess.

The Citizens Advice website www.citizensadvice.org.uk will tell you

everything you need to know. You can also phone Citizens Advice

Consumer Service on 03454 040506 or visit our office in St Aldates.

Randoms

Winning words

Congratulations to Frida Fallarino of Matthew Arnold for winning Best

Chairperson when her team competed with teams from Icknield and

Wood Green schools in the Acer Trust Youth Speaks competition in July.

The junior school competition, hosted by Matthew Arnold for the first time,

is for teams of three to present a topic of their choice to the audience, by

speech alone unaided by digital devices. It was to all the teams’ credit

that they did not choose easy-wins, but serious topics like ‘the Meaning

of Life’, ‘Can Feminists enter Beauty Pageants’, ‘Vegetarianism’, etc.

With big subjects like these it is easy to lose your way, but the

presentations were all well-structured and interesting. The standard was

high and it was fascinating to see such talent emerging at such a young

age. Was it fanciful to detect a Greta Thunberg effect – and not just in all

those plaits!

Community acupuncture

clinic in West Oxford

A community acupuncture clinic

has opened in Dean Court

Community Centre. It keeps

costs down to just £16.50 a

session, by treating more than

one person at a time. Patient

information is collected prior to

the session, which means less

time is needed on the day for

consultation and more people

can be seen at each clinic

session. The aim is to keep this

valuable treatment affordable,

making it accessible to all

Oxfordshire residents. Sessions

run on Mondays from 9.30am till

6pm. Go to www.holistic-

health.org.uk to find out more.

Organizations: If your organization is not listed here, please send details to

editor@thesprout.org.uk or telephone 724452 for inclusion.

1st Botley Brownies

Girls aged 7–10

Dean Court Community Centre Thur 6–7.30 Fiona Wheeler,

firstbotleybrownies@gmail.com

2nd Botley Brownies

Girls aged 7–10

Rosary Room, Yarnells Hill. Tues 6:15-7:45 Alison

Griffin 2ndbotleybrownies@outlook.com

4th Oxford Scout Group

Beavers, Cub Scouts, Scouts

Scout Hall, Arnolds Way; mail@thefourth.org.uk

Website: http://www.thefourth.org.uk/

15th Oxford Scout Group

Boys and girls welcome

Fridays, cubs 6.30-8, scouts 8-9.30, Botley Baptist Hall.

Amy Cusden 07887 654386 xvoxfordscouts@yahoo.co.uk

Baby & Toddler Group

Tues/Thurs 9.15–11, SS Peter & Paul Church Hall

Badminton Club

Thurs 7-8pm at Matthew Arnold Sports Hall. Garry Clark

0777 3559 314 garryclark13@gmail.com

Books on Wheels R.V.S.

Free Library Service for housebound Ox. 248142

Botley Boys & Girls F.C.

Football teams from ages 8-16

Jason Barley Ox. 242926 jbarley1@sky.com or Brendan

Byrne 792531 brendan.byrne999@gmail.com

Botley Health Walks

Wednesday 9.30 a.m Contact: Briony 246497

Botley Library

01865 248142. Open till 7 on Friday and 1pm on Sat,

otherwise 9.30 to 5.30 (closed Wednesdays).

Botley Singers

Thur 7.30, St Andrew’s Church, Dean Court. Angela Astley-

Penny Ox.242189 angastpen@aol.com

Branches Café, Westway

Place, Open to All 8am-3pm,

Open for young people 3-5 daily, Th. eves 7–9 Tel:01865

251115 www.branchesyouth.uk Facebook Branches Youth

Cafe, Instagram @_branches_youth

Community Fridge

For all. Put food in, take food out. Ss P&P church, Mon–Sat

9–5, Sun 11–5. Riki Therivel 07759 135811

Cumnor Choral Society

Rehearsals Friday 7.45 to 9.45 pm John May 07795 054142

or www.cumnorchoralsociety.wordpress.com

Cumnor Chess Club

Thurs 7–9pm Cumnor Old School. Steven Bennett 862788

www.cumnorchessclub.co.uk

Cumnor & District Historical

Society

Last Monday of the month 7.30-9.00 Cumnor Old School.

01865 724808

Cumnor Gardening Club

Details on website at http://cumnorgardens.org.uk/ or

phone Chris Impey, 01865 721026

Harmony InSpires, Ladies'

Acappella Singing Group

Wed 7.30 at Appleton village hall. C. Casson 01235 831352

or harmonyinspires@hotmail.co.uk

Hill End Volunteer Team

Contact: David Millin on david.millin@hill-end.org, call

01865-863510 or visit www.hillend-oec.co.uk

Let’s Sing! – singing group

Weds 2pm, WOCC, details Emily 07969 522368

or email emformusic@outlook.com

Morris Dancing – Cry Havoc

Barbara Brett 249599 or bag@cryhavoc.org.uk

Mum and Baby Yoga for

babies from 6 wks to crawling

Mondays 10.30 at Dean Court CC, contact Jacqueline Rice

via https://yogawithjacqueline.co.uk

North Hinksey Preschool and

Childcare Clubs

Mon–Fri 7.45am –6.00 pm. 01865 794287 or email

nhps.manager1@gmail.com

N Hinksey Art Group

Weds 10 – 12.00 W.I. Hall Tel: Christina 07931 707997

N Hinksey Bellringers

Contact: Ray Rook 01865 241451

N Hinksey Conservation

Volunteers

Meets at weekends. Contact Voirrey Carr 07798743121

voirreyc@aol.com

N Hinksey, Friends of

Annual Cricket Match & Walk. Douglas Bond 791213.

N Hinksey Parish Council

Colin Ryde, tel 861992, clerk@northhinksey-pc.gov.uk

N Hinksey Youth Club

Wednesdays at Arnold's Way pavilion, call Daz on 07791

212866 or see Facebook

Over Sixties Lunch Club

Every other Thursday. Seacourt Hall. Viv Smith 01865

241539 or Jackie Warner 01865 721386

Oxford Flood Alliance

R Thurston 01865 723663 or 07973 292035

Oxfd Flower Arranging Club

4th Thursday Cumnor. Dympna Walker: 01865 865259

Oxford Harmony Men's

Acappella singing group

Meets Wednesdays 7.45 pm at Seacourt Hall Contact

pro@oxfordharmony.co.uk

Oxford Otters

Swimming for people with disabilities. Sundays, twice

monthly. Contact: Alan Cusden 723420

Oxford Rugby Club

Boys and girls from 5, kevin.honner@ntlworld.com

Seniors, training etc jbrodley@chandlings.org.uk.

Oxford Sports Lawn Tennis

Club, N Hinksey

Family club: Melanie Riste 848658 or

melanie_riste@hotmail.com

Raleigh Park, Friends of

raleighpark@raleighpark.org.uk

Saturdads

Botley Bridges

Fun activities and trips for Dads and under 5’s

10 am–noon 1st Sat of month. Tel: 243955

Seacourt Hall management

committee

Contact: Michael Cockman 07766 317691

michael.cockman@gmail.com.

Shotokan Karate club

6+ WOCC twice weekly Martyn King 07836 646450

Weight Watchers

Thursdays 6pm at SS Peter & Paul Church Hall Banso tel:

07779 253899 bansob@aol.com

West Oxford Bowls Club

Contact details on www.westoxfordbowlsclub.co.uk

West Oxford Taekwon Do

Club

Mon, Thurs 6.30-8pm, MA gym, contact Chris Hall 01865

570291 www.wotkd.co.uk

West Oxford U3A

(Uni of the 3rd Age) http://westoxfordu3a.org.uk/

West Way Day Centre

Mon & Fri 10–3pm, Field House, 07740 611971.

oxfordshirehub@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk

Women’s Institute (Botley)

Liz Manson, 244175 email liz.manson@virginmedia.com